President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, swore in the newly appointed service chiefs and charged them to crush existing and emerging terror groups in the country.
The new service chiefs – Gen. Oluremi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff); Major-General W. Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff); Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke (Chief of Air Staff); and Rear Admiral I. Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), were on Wednesday screened and approved by the Senate, while Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye was retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The president at their inauguration at the Presidential Villa, urged them to work proactively and innovatively with sister security organisations to restore security in the country.
According to Tinubu, no reasonable national growth could be achieved without security, and appreciated the efforts and sacrifices made by the military in securing the country.
“However, challenges remain. Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating.
“Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the troublesome areas of North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South.
“We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.
“I charge you, as the heads of our nation’s armed forces, to carry out your duties with patriotic zeal. Nigerians expect results, not excuses. We are in a hurry to celebrate peace.
“I charge you also to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace, freedom and stability.
“Let us deploy technology where necessary. We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. It is time to defeat the enemies.
“I advise you to work together and change your information effectively and follow up proactively, work with other security agencies and defeat this enemy once and for all we need to clean them up, clear them out. I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done,” Tinubu assured them.
Gen. Oluyede, the CDS, assured the president that they would do their best to rid the country of all forms of criminality and make Nigeria safer.
“We pledge our loyalty to Mr. President, and we assure you that we’ll continue to support the flourishing democracy and support all your government aspirations to make Nigeria better,” he said.
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